IRS Data Retrieval Tool

Filing your FAFSA with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

Beginning February, students and parents who have submitted their Federal Income Tax Return information will have the option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool which will assist you tremendously when filing your FAFSA. It is available for those who submit a FAFSA online, and will allow you to retrieve parent and (as applicable) student tax-filing information directly from the IRS onto your FAFSA. To fully take advantage of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, please seriously consider filing federal tax returns as soon as possible, and before beginning your FAFSA. Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will help you complete your FAFSA faster and more accurately than ever before!

Who is not eligible to use the Retrieval Tool?

Special items of note:

ALL applicants and parents who indicate that they HAVE FILED a federal tax return will be directed to use the Retrieval Tool.

Applicants and parents who indicate that they WILL FILE a federal tax return will receive email communications directing them to use the Retrieval Tool to update their income information once the return is filed.

Applicants who choose not to use the Retrieval Tool OR applicants who use the Retrieval Tool but subsequently change income information will be directed by NC State Financial Aid to submit IRS Tax Return Transcripts. The financial aid process will not continue until transcripts are received.

How to Use IRS Data Retrieval

After logging into FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.gov/, submitting preliminary information, and indicating that you have already submitted your federal tax returns, FAFSA will direct you to the IRS website and the data retrieval tool. After clicking on “Transfer Now,” you will automatically be redirected to the FAFSA website and much of your financial data will be populated with the notation “Transferred from the IRS.”

Tax Transcript or IRS Data Retrieval?

We highly recommend you use the IRS Data Retrieval option on the FAFSA if you are eligible. Obtaining a Federal Tax Transcript from the IRS can cause significant delays. Instructions for obtaining a tax return transcript are below.

Federal guidelines allow us to substitute the IRS Data Retrieval process for a tax transcript in many cases. Data Retrieval will simplify the verification process by reducing the number of documents you need to submit to our office and will speed the verification of your FAFSA. However, parents and/or students who use the IRS Data Retrieval and subsequently make changes to the data on the FAFSA must still submit a tax transcript. If you use the IRS Data Retrieval, you should not change any of the data which is pulled from the IRS and input on your aid application.

Certain situations may require a tax transcript even after using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Using IRS Data Retrieval

If you were selected for verification, your first step should be to log back into your FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval option if you are eligible. Then you should submit your verification worksheet and any other items which we have requested from you. If you are not eligible or choose not to use IRS data retrieval, then you will be required to submit a Tax Transcript.

If you did not use the IRS Data Retrieval tool when completing the FAFSA, we encourage you to do so now to speed the verification process. Please follow the steps provided in the graphic link below:

When Will Data Be Available From the IRS

Electronic Tax Filers -

Data will be available within 2 weeks of filing

Paper Tax Filers -

Data will be available within 6-8 weeks of filing

*Please note that if a tax payment is due to the IRS when an individual files their tax return and has not paid in full; the IRS will not process the return until May. A Tax Return Transcript or IRS DRT will not available until 2-3 weeks after the return has been processed in May.

If I am not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool how do I obtain a tax transcript from the IRS?

Do not have transcripts sent directly to our office – they must be sent to you. When you receive the tax transcript, please write the student name and NC State student ID number on the top right hand corner of each page of the Tax Return Transcript before sending to our office. There are several ways to obtain a copy of your Federal Tax Transcript from the IRS, but there may be significant delays involved so please plan ahead:

You have the option to enter as a guest user or to create a user ID and password. We recommend that you NOT check the box for guest user, “Select checkbox and click the “Continue” button to proceed as guest. Proceeding as a guest user will require you to enter this information every time you access the system. If you would like this information stored for future use do not check the box. Click the “Continue” button to create a User ID and password.” We recommend that you elect to set up a user ID and password for future access if needed. That option will be presented to you in later steps.

Click “Continue”

You will be asked a series of personal identifying questions that only you will be able to answer. (Example: What is your mortgage payment?)

Set up a user ID and password. Please make note of your user ID and password for future use.

Select the reason for request “Higher Education/Student Aid”

You will be presented with the option to download a Return Transcript.

Under the blue Return Transcript header, click the tax year link for the appropriate tax filing year.

Select tax year 2014 for 2015-16 academic year

Select tax year 2013 for 2014-15 academic year

Save the PDF version of your Tax Return Transcript

Print the PDF version of your Tax Return Transcript

Write the student name and NCSU student ID number on the top right hand corner of each page of the Tax Return Transcript.

Mail, fax, or email all pages of the PDF version of your Tax Return Transcript to the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid.

Option 4 – GET TRANSCIPT BY PAPER REQUEST IRS FORM 4506-T – Request a transcript by mailing form to IRS

Complete form and submit form to the IRS. The address is state specific and is located on the form.

We are unable to serve as a third party recipient of your Tax Transcript because we cannot match your records without an NC State student ID number. Please have the IRS send the transcript directly to you so that you may include the student’s name and student ID number before forwarding it to our office.

Write the student name and NC State student ID number on the top right hand corner of each page of the Tax Return Transcript.

Mail, fax, or email all pages of your Tax Return Transcript to the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid.